Stacy-Ann Fequiere the seventh cut from 'America's Next Top Model'

By Christopher Rocchio, 04/17/2008

Stacy-Ann Fequiere was labeled as reaching her plateau as an America's Next Top Model contestant, and the 22-year-old student from Miami, FL became the seventh girl eliminated from Top Model's tenth season during last night's broadcast of The CW reality series.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I was not expecting to go home," said Stacy-Ann after her ouster. "I have so much energy and personality, sometimes it came-off as maybe too fake. But just being here and learning from every photo shoot, from all the judges, I know that God has great things for me. I'm just going to keep trying."

Top Model's eighth tenth-season episode began following the previous panel that saw the elimination of Claire Unabia, with Lauren, a 22-year-old artist from Brooklyn, NY, commenting she was "shocked" Claire went home.

"Right now, the competition is so fierce," said Stacy-Ann. "I need to be called first [at panel] sometimes. I'm tired of being stuck in the middle. I just need to push myself right now so I can win America's Next Top Model."

The seven remaining contestants were anticipating that their trip abroad was upcoming. While they were excited, Fatima, a 22-year-old student from Boston, MA, was also nervous since she's not a legal U.S. citizen and is thus not allowed to leave the country without proper documentation, which she said she lost in Atlanta.

"I could get kicked out of the competition by default," she opined.

While she cried about the circumstance she was in, Anya, a 19-year-old in retail sales from Honolulu, HI, consoled her and suggested she stay on top of it and check the document's status with the consulate.

Supermodel and Top Model judge Paulina Porizkova then arrived at the girls' loft and gave them lessons on how to "best showcase" themselves and think on their feet. Paulina criticized Stacy-Ann for coming off as "a little bit fake."

"I was shocked," said Stacy-Ann about the comment. "I was like, 'Whatever. I'm still going to be confident and do my best.'"

The next morning Lauren and Whitney, a 20-year-old student from Atlantic Beach, FL, were making potato pancakes when Lauren sliced her finger cutting an onion. As one Top Model producer took Lauren to the hospital, another was on the phone with Fatima explaining the situation with her travel document. The producer explained that the consulate felt the request was "too last moment."

"I'm worried that you won't be able to get your document anytime soon," the producer told Fatima.

Later that day Lauren returned from the hospital with stitches in her finger.

"Yeah, it sucked," she said. "It really sucked."

The girls then received a gold box that was filled with lemons, limes and a smaller box that contained an invitation for all seven of them to attend an event hosted by 7-Up and designer Jay Godfrey, which would also serve as a challenge. An assistant for Jay then arrived and gave each of the girls their own dress designed by him, and the girls also had their hair and makeup done by stylists.

Once they arrived at the event, each of the girls was interviewed on the red carpet by The Insider co-anchor Lara Spencer. Lauren cursed -- which was very unprofessional -- and Dominique, a 23-year-old receptionist from Columbus, OH, flubbed Jay's last name when Lara asked what designer she was wearing.

Inside the party -- which was attended by Paula and her fellow Top Model judges Nigel Barker and J. "Ms. J" Alexander as well as art director Jay Manuel -- all of the girls mingled, with some doing better than others.

After it was over, Godfrey and Lara gave their thoughts before revealing Anya was the winner for her good interview skills on the red carpet and being the most genuine mingler among the contestants. She participated in a 7-Up themed photo shoot and also received $10,000.

Back at the loft, Fatima got a call from the producer who explained that he had been in touch with her lawyer -- who set-up an appointment for Fatima the next morning at 9AM at New York City's consulate.

"I'm so happy. I feel really relieved," said Fatima.

The girls then received some Tyra Mail that led them to believe they'd be leaving for their overseas destination the following morning. Many of the girls stayed up all night packing and were too excited to go to sleep. They were picked-up at 5:50AM the next morning and driven to the airport, where they were met by Jay Manuel.

He explained that instead of traveling abroad, they'd be using their luggage as props and participating in a group photo shoot.

Each girl would get a featured position, and their best shots would be combined into one composite photo for the impending judging panel. Because they were shooting on an airplane runway, Jay explained they only had until 3PM to get the shoot done. Bill Herberger would be the shoot's photographer.

Fatima then picked an inopportune time to tell Jay she had to leave to be at the consulate by 9AM. He told her to try and make it back by the end of the shoot, but was still disappointed with her.

"For Fatima to come this far and to only bring this up right now, to me that looks a little lax," he commented. "I don't know what this is going to mean for Fatima in this competition."

Since it was so cold and windy, all of the girls struggled a little. However Stacy-Ann was especially affected by the cold air as tears continuously streamed down her face, impacting her shoot.

While Fatima received the documentation she needed, she didn't finish at the consulate until 12:45PM and rushed back to the airport -- but alas, she didn't arrive until after the shoot had already finished. Making matters even worse for Fatima was that Top Model's seventh tenth-season judging panel was going to be held at one of the airport's hangers.

Top Model creator and lead judge Tyra Banks immediately noticed Fatima was missing, however she arrived shortly thereafter and explained her consulate appointment.

"I'm really sorry. I really apologize," said Fatima.

"You have to do the photo shoots," said Tyra. "Sometimes if a girl is sick or something we'll evaluate her body of work -- but her missing that photo shoot is a big deal. In the history of America's Next Top Model, those girls generally go home."

Tyra then explained panel was happening at the airport because once it was over, they'd all be hopping on a plane and traveling to the overseas location. Most of the girls received positive reviews, but the same criticism Stacy-Ann received during the shoot was reiterated during panel.

"It's a little bit over the top and it looks like you've got one leg in this picture -- which isn't really a great thing," commented Nigel. "At the party, you seemed quite fake. It seemed like you were kind of presenting."

Paulina agreed that Stacy-Ann was "overselling her dress" at the party and compared it to a "car show."

"I don't think it's your best angle, I just see a lot of jaw," added Tyra about the photo. "You have a beautiful jaw, but you have to learn how to work it so it's not too much."

The judges then began to deliberate, and since they didn't have a photo of Fatima to critique, they had to base it on her prior shoots. Stacy-Ann was once again criticized during deliberations.

"Fatima and Stacy-Ann... The two of you stand before me and I have something in my hands -- it could be a photo of you Stacy-Ann or it could be blank photo of you Fatima because you did not participate in the photo shoot," said Tyra.

"Interesting judging because we had to judge both of your bodies of work. We look at your body of work Stacy-Ann, and we say beautiful girl, beautiful Paulina jaw line, absolutely beautiful eyes. But some of the judges feel like you have plateaued -- like your pictures have gotten as good as they're going to get. And the judges look at Fatima, and they're disappointed. They're disappointed that you did not have a visa or a passport. How can you expect to go overseas without that? And you did not participate in the photo shoot this week. But even without that, your body of work is much stronger than Stacy-Ann's."

Stacy-Ann departed and Tyra revealed that the remaining six contestants would immediately be boarding a plane for Rome, Italy.

"I am so sad right now that I'm not going overseas. It was something I really wanted to do," opined Stacy-Ann.